Car-seal.



G. C; PECKHAM.

CAR SEAL.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 5. 1913.

Patented 11%. 7, 1915.

1x VII srarns PAT arr Ere.

GEORGE C. PECKHAM, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CAR SEAL COMPANY, 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

GAR-SEAL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, GEORGE C. PECKHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Seals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the type of seals which are used for fastening the door of a car or other closure by passing the seal through the staple or fastening device of the door in such a manner that the door or closure cannot be opened without mutilating the seal, thereby giving evidence if the door has been fraudulently opened.

The invention particularly relates to the class of seals comprising a metal strap which can be readily attached, and when once secured is proof against manipulation without destroying its utility, and one of the main objects of my invention is to pro? duce a seal of the class described in which the entire seal is made from asingle strip of metal, and of such simple construction that the seal may be produced at little eX- pense.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such a seal a chambered head having an abutment therein, the head and abutment being formed from the single strip of material and the abutment being in the form of a reverse bend in the chamber with the edges of the abutment locked in the walls of the chamber so that it cannot be withdrawn.

A further object of the invention is to provide means on the abutment for catching and retaining the end ofthe strap when it is inserted in the chamber.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only: Figure 1 illustrates the blank from which the seal is made. Fig. 2 shows the blank after having been shaped for assembling. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sealin theoprocess of forming. Fig. i is a perspective of a portion of the seal in its. fastened position, a part of the same being broken away to illustrate the position of the parts in the interior thereof. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the seal in its fastened position. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

Application filed March 5, 1913. Serial No. 752,213.

the seal in its fastened position. Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 6, showing the opposite side thereof. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 00 :c Fig. 5. Fig. 9'is a sectional view on line m"m Fig. 5.

The entire seal, including the head and shackle thereof, is made of a single sheet metal strap or band 1, the blank for the same being shown in Fig. 1. One end of the strap 1 is divided by a transverse bend into a first portion 3, and a second portion 2. When the blank is shaped up by suitable dies, the section 2 is provided with a longitudinally disposed depression at least as wide as the edge of the strap, and which, when the 'section3 is bent back on section 2, forms a chamber at for receiving the opposite end of the strap, as hereinafter described. Before folding the sections 2 and 3 together, the strap adjacent the inner end of the section 2 is bent into the said section and then back upon itself, as shown in Fig. 3,. thereby forming an abutment 5 extending into the chamber 4 of the head 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The abutment 5 is formed by two bends, thatportion of the strap lying between the bends being hereinafter called the third portion of the strap,- and the main body of the strap being designated as the c fourth portion. Previous to bending the strap,-as just described, a portion of the same is punched upwardly therefrom to form a catch or tongue 7 which extends away from the strap into the chamher at. That part of the fourth portion that lieswithin the chamber and the third por-. tion are provided with longitudinally extending ribs 8 which strengthen the strap and prevent the abutment 5 from being rolled out of the chamber 4: by pulling the strap.

To prevent fraudulent opening of the seal by cutting at the second bend between the second portion 2 and the third portion, which would allow the abutment 5 to be withdrawn and reinserted in the chamber 4:

without affecting the external appearance of the chamber, 1 form a flange 9 on the edges of that part of. the fourth portion which is inside the chamber, the flanges 9 being secured in the walls of thechamber as hereinafter described.

The chamber 4C is provided with a depres sion 10 which is formed by pressing the metal of the second portion outwardly therefrom, the depression 10 being arranged to be opposite the catch or tongue 7 to provide clearance therefor when the strap is bent into the form of the abutment 5 within the chamber 4, as heretofore described. The first section 3 is also provided with a longitudinal groove or recess 11 which extends inwardly from the end thereof for receiving a rib or boss 12 which is formed by striking up the metal of the strap adjacent to' the end thereof. The end of the strap is provided with an opening 13 punchedrtherein, the walls of which opening 13 are adapted to be engaged by the catch or tongue 7, as hereinafter described.

The section 2 having been formed with thechamber 4L with the depression 10, and the section 3 having been provided with the groove 11, as heretofore described, and the strap adjacent to the section 2 having been bent into the chamber 4 to form the abutment 5 therein, the section 3 is bent back upon the section 2, and the lateral edges or flanges 14: of the section 3 are then bent over the edges or flanges 15 of the section 2 and the flanges 9 on the abutment 5, after which the flanges 14, 15 and the flanges 9 therebetween are crimped for the purpose of locking the same together. By reason of the depression in the section 2 to form the chamher 4, a passage or opening is provided between the section 3 and the adjacent sideof the abutment 5 adapted to receive the oppo site end of the strap, as hereinafter de scribed.

The free end of the strap is provided with a hook 16 designed to engage or interlock with the hook orabutment 5 in the chamber of the head 6, the hook 16 being formed by bending the end of the strap back upon itself, as shown in Fig. 3. The ho0k'16'is provided with an abutment designed to be 4 engaged by the tongue orcatch 7 which, in

the present instance, is the front wall of the aperture or opening 13 through which the tongue or catch 7 passes when the seal is secured.

In using the seal, after the shackle is passed through the staple of the door to be fastened or sealed, the hook end 16 of the strap enters into the head 6 through the passage provided between the hook 5 and the *section 3 until the edge of the hook 16 slips V strap which forms the hook 16, and the part forming the section 20f the head, it is impossible to reach the same with a tool and disengage the catch from the hook on the end of the strap. As the hook 16 is inserted into the head 6, as above described, and engaged therein by the catch 7, the rib 12 on the end'of the strap enters the groove or recess 11 formed in the head 6. The lug or rib 12 is so shaped that the same enters wholly within the groove 11 in the head, leaving exposed to view nothing but the flat portion of the strap extending outwardly from the head. Should an attempt be made to break the band or strap by filing the strap at the point where the same enters'the head, the end of the strap could not again be inserted into the head, inview of the fact that the end of the strap would abut against the end 18 of the rib 1:2, thereby preventing insertion of the same into the head, so that in such case the strap could not be broken or filed, and the same again inserted into the head, in an attempt to'make the seal appear intact or untampered with. The crimping of the edges or flanges of the sections 2 and 3 prevents tampering with the seal by bending the same, as the flanges, after having been bent or crimped, as shown,

could not be bent so as to open the head same after the metal has once been crimped.

What I claim is a 1. A car seal comprising a single metallic strap having a chambered head at one end thereof, an abutment formed within said head by bending said strap upon itself, a hook on the opposite end of the strap from the head, said hook having an opening therein and said hook being so shaped as to engage said abutment, and a catch on the abutment adapted to engage the opening in the hook. I

2. A car seal comprising a strap having a chambered head formed integrally therewith at one end thereof, said head having an opening at its inner end, an abutment formed by bending the strap upon itself in said head, flanges on said abutment, means for securing said flanges in the walls of the head, a hook on the opposite end of the strap from the head, said hook having an opening therein and said hook being so shaped as to engage said abutment, and a catch on said abutment adapted to engage the opening in said hook.

3. A car seal comprising a single metallic strap having a chambered head formed at one end thereof, an abutment formed by bending an intermediate portion of said strap into said head, means for securing the edges of the abutment to the walls of the head, and means on the opposite end of the strap from thehead for engaging said abutment. U

4. A car seal comprising a single metallic strap having a chambered head formed at one end thereof, an abutment formed by bending an intermediate portion of said strap into said head, flanges formed on the edges of said abutment and crimped into the walls of said head, and locking means formed on the other end of said strap from said chambered head, said locking means being adapted to enter said head and engage said abutment.

5. In a car seal a combined chamber and abutment formed of a single strap having three bends at one end thereof dividing it into first, second, third, and fourth portions, the second portion having a shallow depression forming the bottom and side walls of the chamber, the third portion being bent back into said depression, the fourth portion being bent in a reverse direction over the third portion thereby forming the abutment, and the first portion forming a cover which is bent over the depression inclosing the abutments, the outer edges of the cover and the abutment being secured to the side walls of the depression.

6. In a car seal a combined chamber and abutment formed of a single strap having three bends at one end thereof dividing it into first, second, third, and fourth portions, the second portion having a shallow depression forming the bottom and side walls of the chamber, the side walls having flanges parallel to the bottom, the third portion being bent back into said depression, the fourth portion being bent in a reverse direction over the third portion thereby forming the abutment, and the first portion forming a cover which is bent over the depression, the edges of the cover being crimped over the said flanges and the edges of the abutment.

7. In a car seal a combined chamber and abutment formed of a single strap having three bends at one end thereof dividing it into first, second, third, and fourth portions, the second portion having a shallow depression forming the bottom and side walls of the chamber, the third portion being bent back into said depression, the fourth portion being bent in a reverse direction over the third portion thereby forming the abutment, and the first portion forming a cover which is bent over the depression inclosing the abutment, the outer edges of the cover and the abutment being secured to the side walls of the depression, said combined chamher and abutment being formed on one end of the strap and the other end of the strap having a single bend forming a hook so '7 the chamber, the side walls having fianges parallel to the bottom, the third portion being bent back into said depression, the fourth portion being bent in a reverse direction over thethird portion thereby forming the abutment, and the first portion forming a cover which is bent over the depression, the edges of the cover being crimped over the said flanges and the edges of the abut ment, said combined chamber and abutment being formed on one end of the strap and the other end of the strap having a single bend forming a hook so shaped that it can pass into said chamber and engage said abutment.

9. In a car seal a combined chamber and abutment formed of a single strap having three bends at one end thereof dividing it into first, second, third, and fourth portions, the second portion having a shallow depression forming the bottom and side walls of the chamber, the third portion being bent back into said depression, a part of said third portion being punched out to form a tongue extending away from said abutment, the fourth portion being bent in a reverse direction over the third portion thereby forming the abutment, and the first portion forming a cover which is bent over the depression inclosing the abutment, the outer edges of the cover and the abutment being secured to the side walls of the depression, said combined chamber and abutment being formed on one end of the strap and the other end of the strap having a single bend forming a hook so shaped that it can pass into said chamber and engage said abutment, said hook having an opening so placed as to be engaged by said tongue.

10. In a car seal a combined chamber and abutment formed of a single strap having three bends at one end thereof dividing it into first, second, third, and fourth portions, the second portion having a shallow depression forming the bottom and side walls of the chamber, the side walls having flanges parallel to the bottom, the third portion being bent back into said depression, a part of said third portion being punched out to form a tongue extending away from said abutment, the fourth portion being bent in a reverse direction over the third portion thereby forming the abutment, and the first portion forming a cover which is bent over the depression, the edges of the cover being crimped over the said flanges and the edges of the abutment, said combined chamber and abutment being formed on one end of the In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set strap and the other end of the strap having my hand at Los Angeles, California, this a single bend forming a hook so shaped that 26th day of February, 1913. s v v y it can pass into said chamber and engage GEORGE C. PECKHAM. said abutment, said hook having an open- 'In presence of ing, so placed as to be engaged by said FRANK L. A. GRAHAM, tongue. v a P. H. SHELTON.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. C. 

